Holland Historical Trust seeks $31K from city to get private donor funds

Private donors in the communities have promised $250,000 contingent on area governmental entities providing $150,000, which is why historical trust representatives are asking the city to make up the difference.

The Holland Historical Trust is asking the Holland City Council for $31,000 more than the municipality originally budgeted for the trust.

Last year, when cutting more than $1 million from the city’s budget, council agreed to cut in half its contribution to the Holland Historical Trust from $235,239 to $117,600. Tied to that decision was the move to cut the budget again this year to $58,000.

Although the historical trust is its own entity and not governed by the city council, it does manage some of the city’s archives and the city owns some of the properties the historical trust manages.

Much of the support for cutting funding to the trust was grounded in the fact the neighboring townships did not contribute to the trust despite the fact it is a regional asset.

During the past year, Board of Trustees Chairman Geoffrey Reynolds and Interim Executive Director Mary Esther Lee have been in talks with the townships and have managed to raise $61,000 of the $92,000 requested to maintain its budget. It’s now asking the city to make up the difference of $31,000 in addition to the $58,000 the city allocated.

Representatives from the historical trust sought $92,000 from the townships, broken down based on the population of each municipality, Lee said. Representatives asked Holland Township for $58,000, equal to the city of Holland’s contribution; it promised $50,000. Park Township was asked for $25,500; it promised $10,000. Laketown Township was asked for $8,500; it gave the trust $1,000.

“I’ve been very encouraged by the generosity and the spirit,” Lee said.

Private donors in the communities have promised $250,000 contingent on the governmental entities providing $150,000, which is why historical trust representatives are asking the city for the remaining $31,000.

The trust is working through the process of asking for voters to approve a millage. The plan is to have the referendum on the ballot in November, Lee said. The trust’s board will put together a millage committee, which will work out the details.

The trust needs roughly $800,000 annually to operate effectively, said Lee, who is the former director of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Her time in Holland was to be limited, but funding cuts put hiring a permanent director on hold.

The museum is also operating without a curator; Reynolds has helped fulfill those responsibilities. The trust also needs a development director.

Lee said she would like to see the museum focus more on education. Right now, the trust is managing with mostly part-time staff, and there is no money for high-profile exhibitions, she said.

The city council was divided during its discussion. The request by the historical trust will be voted on May 1.